Healthcare Footwear Article with Silicon Rubber Sole Body and Its Manufacturing Method

ABSTRACT

A healthcare footwear article includes an upper shoe body defining an attachment surface, a healthcare sole member and a midsole member. The healthcare sole member is provided underneath the upper shoe body, and has a bottom outsole portion, an upper insole portion, and a connecting surface, wherein the healthcare sole member is configured from silicon rubber material. The midsole member is provided on the connecting surface of the healthcare sole member, wherein the attachment surface is securely attached on the connecting surface and the midsole member for securely connecting the upper shoe body to the healthcare sole member.

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a healthcare footwear article, and more particularly to a healthcare shoe comprising a healthcare sole member made by silicon rubber material, and a manufacturing method of the healthcare shoe.

2. Description of Related Arts

A conventional shoe typically comprises an upper shoe body and a sole attached underneath the upper shoe body. The upper shoe body defines a shoe cavity for accommodating a user's foot so that the foot can be held in the shoe. The sole is for supporting the user's foot. A bottom surface of the sole is arranged to be in direct contact with the ground. For this type of conventional shoe, the sole of the shoe is usually made of rubber material, Ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) material, thermoplastic elastomers (TPR) material and the likes. The upper shoe body is usually made of fabric or leather material.

A disadvantage of the conventional shoe mentioned above is that the conventional materials used for forming the sole are not comfortable enough for the user. As a result, a wide variety of methods have been employed to compensate this discrepancy. For example, a physical medium, such as an air layer, may be added between the sole and the upper shoe body for shock absorption. Despite these methods, there is a need to improve upon the sole. Moreover, there is no silicon rubber shoe sole existing in the market.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

An objective of the present invention is to provide a healthcare footwear article such as a healthcare shoe comprising a healthcare sole member which is made of silicon rubber material, and a method of manufacturing the healthcare shoe.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide healthcare footwear article such as a healthcare shoe comprising a healthcare sole member which is made of silicon rubber material, and can be securely attached to an upper shoe body which is made of a material other than silicon rubber material.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide healthcare footwear article such as a healthcare shoe comprising a healthcare sole member which is made of silicon rubber material, and which can impart substantial comfort and health to the user wearing the shoe.

In one aspect of the present invention, it provides a healthcare footwear article, comprising:

an upper shoe body defining a receiving cavity and having an attachment surface;

a healthcare sole member which is provided underneath the upper shoe body, and has a bottom outsole portion, an upper insole portion, and a connecting surface, wherein the healthcare sole member is configured from silicon rubber material; and

a midsole member provided on the connecting surface of the healthcare sole member, wherein the attachment surface is securely attached on the connecting surface and the midsole member for securely connecting the upper shoe body to the healthcare sole member.

In another aspect of the present invention, it provides a method of manufacturing a healthcare footwear article, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a healthcare sole member of a healthcare footwear article by injection molding or pressing technology, wherein the healthcare sole member is made of or configured from silicon rubber material, and has a bottom outsole portion, an upper insole portion, and a connecting surface;

(b) attaching a midsole member onto the connecting surface of the healthcare sole member by injection molding or pressing technology;

(c) providing a upper shoe body which defines a receiving cavity and has an attachment surface, wherein the upper shoe body is made of or configured from a material other than silicon rubber material (i.e. any other material which is not silicon rubber); and

(d) securely attaching the attachment surface of the upper shoe body on the connecting surface and the midsole member for securely connecting the upper shoe body to the healthcare sole member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a healthcare footwear article according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating a method of manufacturing the healthcare footwear article according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The following detailed description of the preferred embodiment is the preferred mode of carrying out the invention. The description is not to be taken in any limiting sense. It is presented for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the present invention. Each of the inventive features described below can be used independently of one another or in combination with other features.

Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a healthcare footwear article, such as a healthcare shoe, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The healthcare footwear article comprises a healthcare sole member 1, an upper shoe body 2, and a midsole member 3.

The upper shoe body 2 defines a receiving cavity 21 and has an attachment surface 22. The healthcare sole member 1 is provided underneath the upper shoe body 2, and has a bottom outsole portion 11, an upper insole portion 12, and a connecting surface 13, wherein the healthcare sole member 1 is configured from and made of silicon rubber material.

The midsole member 3 is provided on the connecting surface 13 of the healthcare sole member 1, wherein the attachment surface 22 of the upper shoe body 2 is securely attached on the connecting surface 13 and the midsole member 3 for securely connecting the upper shoe body 2 to the healthcare sole member 1.

According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the upper shoe body 2 may be configured from a material which is different from that of the healthcare sole member 1. For example, the upper shoe body 2 may be configured from leather material or rubber material, or a combination of both. The upper shoe body 2 is arranged to receive a user's foot in the receiving cavity 21, and may be imparted with a predetermined or desirable aesthetic appearance.

As shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings, the bottom outsole portion 11 of the healthcare sole member 1 has a bottom surface 111 adapted to contact with an external surface, such as a ground surface. The upper insole portion 12 may be integrally and upwardly extended from the bottom outsole portion 11. Moreover, the upper insole portion 12 has a wearing surface 121 adapted for contacting with a user's sole. The wearing surface 121 may be slightly curved for ergonomically fitting the user's sole. The bottom surface 111 of the bottom outsole portion 11 may have a plurality of indentions 112 so as to construct a predetermined or desirable aesthetic appearance or functional structure on the bottom surface 111.

The connecting surface 13 of the healthcare sole member 1 is circumferentially and upwardly extended from a side edge portion 1211 of the wearing surface 121, and is arranged to overlappedly connect to the attachment surface 22 of the upper shoe body 2 while the midsole member 3 is sandwiched between the connecting surface 13 and the attachment surface 22.

The midsole member 3 may be configured from and made of fabric materials, such as flannel material or flannel layer which is initially attached on the connecting surface 13 of the healthcare sole member 1. The attachment surface 22 of the upper shoe body 2 is then attached on the connecting surface 13 and the midsole member 3 for securely connecting the upper shoe body 2 and the healthcare sole member 1. The thickness of the midsole member 3 may be set to be equal to or less than 0.15 millimeter (i.e. no thicker than 0.15 mm).

The midsole member 3 may be attached on the connecting surface 13 by pressing technology or injection molding technology. The upper shoe body 2, the healthcare sole member 1 and the midsole member 3 may be attached together at the connecting surface 13 and the attachment surface 22 by a predetermined adhesive agent. Thus, by applying a layer of adhesive agent on the attachment surface 22 and the connecting surface 13 and the midsole member 3, the upper shoe body 2 can be securely attached on the healthcare sole member 1. Because of the presence of the midsole member 3, the silicon rubber-made healthcare sole member 1 can be securely connected to the upper shoe body 2 which is made of and configured from a material other than silicon rubber.

In order to further strengthen the connection between the upper shoe body 2 and the healthcare sole member 1, the healthcare footwear article of the present invention further comprises at least one reinforcing fiber 4 connecting the upper shoe body 2 and the healthcare sole member 1. More specifically, the reinforcing fiber 4 is circumferentially stitched along the attachment surface 22 and the connecting surface 13 so as to reinforce the connection between the attachment surface 22 and the connecting surface 13.

Referring to FIG. 2 of the drawings, a method of manufacturing the healthcare footwear article such as the healthcare shoe mentioned above according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The manufacturing method comprises the steps of:

(a) providing a healthcare sole member 1 of a healthcare footwear by injection molding or pressing technology, wherein the healthcare sole member 1 is made of or configured from silicon rubber material, and has a bottom outsole portion 11, an upper insole portion 12, and a connecting surface 13;

(b) attaching a midsole member 3 onto the connecting surface 13 of the healthcare sole member 1 by injection molding or pressing technology;

(c) providing a upper shoe body 2 which defines a receiving cavity 21 and has an attachment surface 22, wherein the upper shoe body 2 is made of or configured from a material other than silicon rubber; and

(d) securely attaching the attachment surface 22 of the upper shoe body 2 on the connecting surface 13 and the midsole member 3 for securely connecting the upper shoe body 2 to the healthcare sole member 1.

The manufacturing method further comprises the steps of forming a plurality of indentions 112 on the bottom surface 111 of the bottom outsole portion 11 for constructing a predetermined or desirable aesthetic appearance or functional structure on the bottom surface 111.

Step (d) comprises the steps of:

(d.1) applying a layer of adhesive agent onto the connecting surface 13 of the healthcare sole member 1 and the midsole member 3; and

(d.2) attaching the attachment surface 22 of the upper shoe body 2 to the connecting surface 13 of the healthcare sole member 1 and the midsole member 3 so as to securely connect the upper shoe body 2 to the healthcare sole member 1, wherein the midsole member 3 is sandwiched between the connecting surface 13 and the attachment surface 22.

The manufacturing method further comprises the step of providing at least one reinforcing fiber 4 arranged to connect the upper shoe body 2 and the healthcare sole member 1 by circumferentially stitching the reinforcing fiber 4 along the attachment surface 22 and the connecting surface 13.

In order to make the present invention more environmentally friendly and have enhanced healthcare features, a predetermined amount of titanium powder, negative ion powder or infrared ray powder may be added to the silicon rubber material of the healthcare sole member 1.

The present invention, while illustrated and described in terms of a preferred embodiment and several alternatives, is not limited to the particular description contained in this specification. Additional alternative or equivalent components could be used to practice the present invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A healthcare footwear article, comprising: an upper shoe body defining a receiving cavity and having an attachment surface; a healthcare sole member which is provided underneath said upper shoe body, and has a bottom outsole portion, an upper insole portion, and a connecting surface, wherein said healthcare sole member is configured from silicon rubber material; and a midsole member provided on said connecting surface of said healthcare sole member, wherein said attachment surface is securely attached on said connecting surface and said midsole member for securely connecting said upper shoe body to said healthcare sole member.
 2. The healthcare footwear article, as recited in claim 1, wherein said upper shoe body is configured from a material other than silicon rubber.
 3. The healthcare footwear article, as recited in claim 2, wherein said healthcare sole member has a wearing surface, while said connecting surface of said healthcare sole member is circumferentially and upwardly extended from a side edge portion of said wearing surface, and is arranged to overlappedly attach to said attachment surface of said upper shoe body while said midsole member is sandwiched between said connecting surface and said attachment surface.
 4. The healthcare footwear article, as recited in claim 3, wherein said midsole member is configured from fabric materials.
 5. The healthcare footwear article, as recited in claim 4, wherein said bottom outsole portion of said healthcare sole member has a bottom surface adapted to contact with an external surface, wherein said upper insole portion is integrally and upwardly extended from said bottom outsole portion.
 6. The healthcare footwear article, as recited in claim 5, wherein said upper shoe body, said healthcare sole member and said midsole member are attached together at said connecting surface and said attachment surface by a predetermined adhesive agent.
 7. The healthcare footwear article, as recited in claim 6, further comprising at least one reinforcing fiber connecting said upper shoe body and said healthcare sole member, wherein said reinforcing fiber is circumferentially stitched along said attachment surface and said connecting surface so as to reinforce a connection between said attachment surface and said connecting surface.
 8. The healthcare footwear article, as recited in claim 2, wherein a thickness of said midsole member is at most 0.15 millimeter.
 9. The healthcare footwear article, as recited in claim 4, wherein a thickness of said midsole member is at most 0.15 millimeter.
 10. The healthcare footwear article, as recited in claim 7, wherein a thickness of said midsole member is at most 0.15 millimeter.
 11. The healthcare footwear article, as recited in claim 8, wherein said bottom surface of said bottom outsole portion has a plurality of indentions formed thereon.
 12. The healthcare footwear article, as recited in claim 9, wherein said bottom surface of said bottom outsole portion has a plurality of indentions formed thereon.
 13. The healthcare footwear article, as recited in claim 10, wherein said bottom surface of said bottom outsole portion has a plurality of indentions formed thereon.
 14. A method of manufacturing a healthcare footwear article, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a healthcare sole member by injection molding or pressing technology, wherein said healthcare sole member is configured from silicon rubber material, and has a bottom outsole portion, an upper insole portion, and a connecting surface; (b) attaching a midsole member on the connecting surface of said healthcare sole member by injection molding or pressing technology; (c) providing an upper shoe body which defines a receiving cavity and has an attachment surface, wherein said upper shoe body is configured from a material other than silicon rubber; and (d) securely attaching said attachment surface of said upper shoe body on said connecting surface and said midsole member for securely connecting said upper shoe body to said healthcare sole member.
 15. The method, as recited in claim 14, wherein said (d) comprises the steps of: (d.1) applying a layer of adhesive agent onto said connecting surface of said healthcare sole member and said midsole member; and (d.2) attaching said attachment surface of said upper shoe body to said connecting surface of said healthcare sole member and said midsole member so as to securely connect said upper shoe body to said healthcare sole member, wherein said midsole member is sandwiched between said connecting surface and said attachment surface.
 16. The method, as recited in claim 15, further comprising the step of providing at least one reinforcing fiber arranged to connect said upper shoe body and said healthcare sole member by circumferentially stitching said reinforcing fiber along said attachment surface and said connecting surface.
 17. The method, as recited in claim 16, further comprising a step of forming a plurality of indentions on said bottom surface of said bottom outsole portion.
 18. The method, as recited in claim 15, wherein a thickness of said midsole member is at most 0.15 millimeter.
 19. The method, as recited in claim 16, wherein a thickness of said midsole member is at most 0.15 millimeter.
 20. The method, as recited in claim 17, wherein a thickness of said midsole member is at most 0.15 millimeter. 